davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The San Saba news. [volume] (San Saba, Tex.) 1873-1966, 1887-04-22
Steel Pen and Quill.

The steel pen is an exceedingly modern
invention. ANY person past middle age
can remember when its use became gen
eral in America. Before that time the
Quill pen was universal, and to make or
sharpen it for his pupils was one Of the
chief tasks Of the schoOlmaster Many
persons still employ this archaic instru-
ment, driving to madness all who arc
within hearing of its more narrowing
sound. The utter inability of thepresent
generation to listen to the scratching Of
the quill pen Is one of the most startling
evidences Of the increase Of nervous dis
orders among US. The pretended prefer
ence for it is generally an affectation.
The name Of the person who first used
a quill pen has not been preserved, and
the loss has not been seriously felt. 1t
WAS probably some monk or LEARNED
clerk Of the middle ages who found that
it could usefully supplement the stylus
with which he was Illuminating manu-
script. The quill might have easily been
suggested by the bodkin made Of the
bone Of a bird or other animal trans
mitted from the Romans to the medieval
monks. or by the sharpened reed, also
used bv the Romans and still in use
among the Arabs. The Chinese and
Iopanese use a sort Of brush in writing.
and when well instructed write rapidly
and with artistic skill.-YSqn Francisco
CIr0Hi~le
The San Saba news. [volume] (San Saba, Tex.) 1873-1966, 1887-04-22
FACTS FOR THE CURIOUS

\ calf with eight legs and two heads
Is IN possession Of farmer at Livennore
The largest sweet potato on record was
Town low. IN Florida last season. 1t is twenty
eight inches long. '"'-'
Coaches We're introduced into Fn,l,nd
uufing the reign of Elizabeth and w ,s,,'
at inst only used by ladies '''' "e''
France secured on the conclusion ~
lhe lhirty Years War. in l6is the NOV.
lost in 1870. winch She
Ten languages-English. German No,
xegian, Swedish, French. Bobem;sn
Finn, Polish, Italian and Chinese -. a.,
spoken in Minnesota. ''''' y are
Denver is the highest of the State ,,n;.
tals, beng 5,l15 feet above the sea lsvei
Annapolis, Nd, is the lowest. beino onlv
four feet above the sea level
The words of the song 4" John Brov,,s
Body Lies Wondering in the Crave -
were written by Frank E. Jerome Mr.
Jerome Is now one of the editors Of the
Russell kansas Record. He was NOT
thirty when the song appeared.
\ curious habit of deer is that of cat.
ing the bones of their own kind II
dead dear Is left on hill, when birds and
insects have eaten its flesh. its bones will
often be consumed by its own relations
They will also eat horns that have been
shed.
When Alexander the Great took pos
session of Babylon, in S31 B. c., he found
a series of astronomical observations tax
en- by the ChaldRans for an unbroken
period of 1908 years, which places the
beginning Of the observations as early as
1884 B. c.
Julius Caesar was upward OF forts
years Of age before he became prominent
in public affairs, and, as he was assassin
ated at the age Of tifty-six, he advanced
in sixteen years from the position Of a
Roman citizen TO be eonqueror of the
then known world and the ruler of the
Roman empire.
1t has been demonstrated that platinum
wire may be drawn so fine as to be invis-
ible to the naked eye, although It's pres
ence upon perfectly white card can be
detected by the touch, and can be seen by
the aid Of n small magnifying glass when
the card Is held Is such n position that
the wire casts a shadow.
The Profile is huge and very interest
sting rock conformation upon the side
# Profile Mountain in the Franconia
ange white Mountains). New Hamp-
hire. From a certain point of view at
distance it bears wonderful resemblance
% the outline Of human face. This re-
complete and distinct profile is
nearly /, 500 feet above the level Of the
little lake below it, and it is from sixty
o eighty feet in length 1t is also pop
llarly know as the Old Man of the Noun
ain.
In his address at the dedication of the
new Brooks library building at Brattle-
Doro, Vt, Hon. Mellcn Chamberlain of
The Boston Public Library said that "be-
lore 1900 there was not in Massachusetts,
so far as known, a copy of Shakespeare's
1r of Millions poems; and as late as 1928,
whatever may have been in private hands,
Harvard College library lacked Addison,
Atterbury, Bolingbroke, Dryden. Guy,
Locke, Pope, Prior, Steele, Swift and
Young" Against such back ground
me may effectively paint the later progress
If literary life in New England.
The San Saba news. [volume] (San Saba, Tex.) 1873-1966, 1887-04-22

The most common pests IN Mexico are
the aicarans or scorpions, for during GER
tain seasons Of the year they are as nu-
merous as flies around 4 sugar house.
They are within the cracks Of tile wall,
between bricks Of the tiles of the floor,
hiding inside your garments, darling
everywhere with incOnceivable rapidity
their tails which sting, ready to fly up
with dangerous effect upon the slightest
provocation. Turn up 4 corner of the
rug or table spread and YOU disturb a
flourishing colony of them; shake your
shoes in the morning, and out they flop;
throw your bath sponge into the water,
and half a dozen of them dart ont of its
cool depths, into which they had wiggled
for siesta; in short, every article You
touch must be treated like dose Of med
icine-''to be well shaken before taken
The average scorpion is mahogany-hued
and about two inches long; but l have
seen them as long rs five inches The
small. yellowish variety are considered
most dangerous, and their bite is most
apprehended at midday. In Durango
they are black and so alarmingly numer-
ous-having been allowed to breed for
centuries in the deserted mines-that the
Government offers a reward per head Tor
rather per taiD to whoever will kill them.
Their sting is seldom fatal, but it is more
or less severe, according to the state of
the system. Victims have been known
to repair for days in commissions, foam
ing F-she mouth, with stomach swelled
Is in dropsy; while others do not suffer
NV n more than from bee sting. The
common remedies are brandy. taken in
sufficient quantities to stupefy the pa
tent, ammonia. administered both exter-
nally and internally, boiled silk and qua
iacum. 1t is also Of use to press large
key or other tube on the wound to force
out part of the poison Boston Tran
Srlint.
The San Saba news. [volume] (San Saba, Tex.) 1873-1966, 1887-04-22
General Lees Broken Hands.

A brief chapter of unwritten war his
tory has been related by Captain Greene,
of Charlottesville, Va, as he with group
of exConfederates were studying the pan
Drama of the battle of Bull Run at Wash
ington. Said he: 1T Is a fact not gen
orally known that a serious accident oc-
CURED to General Robert E. Lee the
morning after the second battle of Bull
Run. General Lee and Stonewall Jack
son were seated on a log, near Sudley
Springs, when some Confederate soldiers
who had crossed the ford imagined they
had struck POpe's whole army. They
instantly became stampeded and rushed
pell nell by the two officers. General
Lees horse, old Traveller, broke away.
and the General, in his efforts to catch
him, was thrown violently to the ground,
breaking both his hands General Lee
went to South Mountain and Antietam in
IN ambulance, and Travelled in this man
ner through the campaign that followed,
carrying his hands in sling. Accord
ing TO my best remembrance he never
fully recovered from the injury"
The San Saba news. [volume] (San Saba, Tex.) 1873-1966, 1887-04-22
Scene in the Persian Palace.

The lilies Sultan is the favorite son of
the Shah of Persia. lie Is thirty-fve.
short, and of athletic build, is fine shot,
and is leader of Persian fashions. The
London 81. Jtmes's Gdzette thus describes
a domestic scene: .'The room is purpose
" darkened. There sits the Prince, sup
ported by cushions, on n mattress. He
is evidently out of sorts; his hakimbashi
is feeling his pulse. The Governor of
Yezd, formerly his favorite personal at
tendant, is kneading one knee, the Gov
ernoI of Bonat is gently rubbing the 9TH
er Two attendants are softly pommel-
ing the princely feet, while the chief bar
Der, an important parsonage, is carefully
and scientifically shampooing the back of
his neck. Mira Reza, the Princes con-
fidential valet, man who has been Gov
ernor of Fussa under his Royal Highness,
is reading poetry. Evidently the Prince
is in pain. Rub, rub, he cries. abr
with a sigh of relief, that is good-that
is very goodr The chief barber, whose
clever shampooing has earned this praise,
smiles with pleasure Mira Reza, Mira
Reza Khan3 This is shouted, and the
confidential valet stops his monotonous
poetry. Let our chief barber have our
fur-lined cloak-the red one The de
lighted barber, who is to receive a gift
worth $50, stops TO thank the Prince
Rub, rascal. rub, is the relv.n
The San Saba news. [volume] (San Saba, Tex.) 1873-1966, 1887-04-22
A Persian Onack.

DR.. Wills, an Englishman residing IL
Persia, accepted an invitation to dine Of
the house Of Mira NJ Kahn, ,
wealthy grandee. The meal had hardly
begun when enc Of the guests, s.
Kahn, entered upon long list of his all
ments for the benefit of the English
physician
1t IS the custom in Persia to consult a
medical man wherever one Is met. This
/ would-be patient finally stated that, for
the relief OF lumbago, he had been IN the
habit Of inserting a needle beneath the
/ flesh of his back every morning. but that,
on the previous day, it had disappeared
under the skin.
The physician, after examining the
flesh which s. Kahn had uncovered,
told him that it was probable that the
needle had been lost and had never been
in his flesh at ALL At this the patient
was most indignant
"Ah, you Europeans he cried; You
will never believe. Why ASha Ali, the
surgeon, says it Is there, and he Is going
to extract it by the mouse"
by the whatf'
THE mouse. Don't you understand
thatl7
mo. What mousei'
'Ah, sciencel All, Europeans He
doesn't understand the action of the
mousen
A chorus of explanations now brought
out the supposed fact that a live mouse
being bound on the back of the patient
the needle, by some mysterious process,
would leave his flesh and be found in that
of the mouse.
''What kind of needle was iti' asked
the Englishman.
The confidential valet produced a
packet of ordinary sewing needles, de
claring that no different ones were ever
used for that purpose.
Presently the native surgeon made his
appearance, and after listening carefully
for the needle with an old stethoscope,
the wrong end of which he applied to the
generals person, declared that the bit of
steel was deeply seated.
''But, please God, said he, "by my
science, and by the help of the sainted
martyrs, Houssein and Hassan, shall re-
move it
He carefully opened 4 box and dis
closed a poor little mouse tied by the
feet with silken threads. The animal on
being touched gave a squeak of pain.
The sound was a revelation TO the
Englishman.
"Ah, - he said, this is indeed a won
derful thing Agha Ali, the surgeons of
Persia have in you burning and shin
ing light; but your trick is old" At this
the native turned pale "Observe, my
friends. Presto, pass! s. Khan, the
needle has left you and is now in the
poor mouse's bodym
Agha Ali sprang up and would have
rushed away, but he was seized and held
while his box was opened. \ needle was
indeed there, previously slipped under
the loose skin OF the mouse's back. 1t was
with the others in the khan's
pockets and found 10 be half an inch too
short.
That the patient was furious need
scarcely be said. He threatened the
frightened surgeon with punishment in
full measure, and it was only at the
intercession that the cul-
prit was spared. Youths Companion.
The San Saba news. [volume] (San Saba, Tex.) 1873-1966, 1887-04-22

One of the city officials, whose office is
on the second floor of the City Hall, is a
very cautious man. They say that when
he proposed to young lady something
over year ago he went at it in an orig
inal manner They were sitting in the
parlor, and Mr. 5. began as follows:
miss - do I look like an apel"
"Why, Mr.. S, what a question: OF
course you don't
IAN right Do you take me for
jackassJ"
"a jackass2 What do you ask that
fort OF course don't
every well. You don't consider me
a harum-scarum good-for nothing, do
your"
''Why, l never thought of such a
thing Why, Mr. 5, what put such a
notion into your head!n
''Well, Miss -, inasmuch as YOU
find me devoid of these Objectionable pc
culiarities, have come to the conclusion
that you feel an interest in me, and l
want to ask you to become my wife"
They were married. Pitts5Urg Pres.
The San Saba news. [volume] (San Saba, Tex.) 1873-1966, 1887-04-22
HOUSEHOLD MATTERS.
Using the Crumbs.

The executive ability required to sue
cessfully balance the needs of the bread
jar may not be given to every woman,
but she may at least see that none IS
wasted. II pieces have accumulated, dr.
them crisp and brown them in the oven
and use them for the stufiing of fowls, or
the basis Of a pudding or for griddie
cakes. If a half loaf or a whole one is
too stale to be relished on the table set it
in the steamer over kettle of boiling
water and send TO the table on hot plate,
covered with a napkin, or, after pouring
enough water over it, set it in covered
pan in the oven and let it remain until
the superfuous moisture has evaporated
and the bread is really steaming. This
should be an occasional dish only, as no
one likes it many times in succession.
Slices of stale bread may be dipped in
egg and fried brown in butter ike an
omelet.
The San Saba news. [volume] (San Saba, Tex.) 1873-1966, 1887-04-22

An agent with three or four rugs in a
strap had called at house on National
avenue and rung the bell without arous-
ing anybody, when a woman called to
him from across the street:
''No use ringing there
sLady gomez"
''They are too poor to buy rugs"
He was about to pass on, when a
chamber window was raised, and wo-
man stuck her head out and said:
'I'll show EN- whether we are or not
think carpenters wife is Just as good
as daryman's wife, and has Just as much
money for fine things. Which is your
best rugf'
''This one, ma'am-for S."
Hang it on the fence, where every
body can see it. Now take this $50 bill
and call at all the houses around here and
ask for change. You wont get it, but
The San Saba news. [volume] (San Saba, Tex.) 1873-1966, 1887-04-22
Stanton and the President.

We quote the following anecdOte from
''RecollectionS Of Secretary Stanton, by
a clerk of the War Department, in the
Century: "When Mr.. Stanley, Of North
Carolina, was appointed Military Gov
ernor Of his State, the Secretary Of War
caused TO be filed out one Of the blank
forms used for notifying military nomi-
nees Of their appointment to office by the
President, and when he had signed it and
caused the seal Of the Department Of War
10 be attached to it, he concluded that it
would be well TO have the sign manual Of
the President affixed to the instrument
lie sent the commission to the White
House, with the request that the Presi-
dent would sign and return it immedi-
ately Mr.. Lincoln took the document
and read it carefully, and then began
turning and twisting it about, rs though
in search Of something. At last he handed
it to the bearer and said, ironically:
Did Mr.. Stanton say where / was to
put my signature.'
" No, sir, replied the astonished
clerk.
." Can YOU tell me, asked the Prcsi-
dent, Whereabouts on this paper | am to
put my signaturer The clerk looked at
the commission and saw the ample sigma
ture Of Mr.. Stanton Immediately at the
foot Of the body of the instrument, with
the counter-signature of the Adjutant-
General to the left. He also SUN a neat,
snug looking white space beneath the
sign-manual of the Secretary of War
which Mr. Lincoln might have occupied
to advantage lad he seen fit, but the clerk
was polite and replied: 1 don't see any
place provided for your signature, Mr..
President, and was proceeding to explain
how the omission obviously came about
when the President interrupted him and
said in dignified tone: Take the paper
back to the Secretary of War, with my
compliments, and say that the President
will promptly sign any proper commission
that may be sent to him for Governor
Stanley or ANYBODY else
The San Saba news. [volume] (San Saba, Tex.) 1873-1966, 1887-04-22
An Adhesive Profession.

'You may make sport of phrenology
as you please, - said fat man from Ohio,
as he leaned back in his chair and twid-
died his thumbs in a Chicago hotel,
''but owe all my business success to it. -
How happens thatl" inquired a
nearer
"a travelling lecturer visited our little
town when | was young man and ex-
amined peoples heads at a dollar piece
l paid dollar and had my head felt l
don't remember all he said about me, but
l recollect he said nay adhesiveness was
very large. took the hint and made
my fortune"
you took the hntl I don't under
standn
II became a glue manufacturer" said
the fat man Chicago Tribune
The San Saba news. [volume] (San Saba, Tex.) 1873-1966, 1887-04-22
An Innnisitire Child.

While Miss Singleton, maiden lady,
was waiting in the parlor for little
Mamies mother, little Mamie asked:
why haven't you got a husband like
ma hast
Miss Singleton replied, good-humor-
eddy, that She couldn't find man to
marry her.
Good gaciousl Have you really
asked all of theml7 exclaimed Mamie, in
open-eved wonder SiffiFqs.
The San Saba news. [volume] (San Saba, Tex.) 1873-1966, 1887-04-22
The GINNING of an Otter.

In the Geological Gardens there was an
otter that had couple of young ones.
One day these Young ones got into the
pond and were quite unable TO climb up
its perpendicular sides. The mother ap-
peared anxious to get them out, and
made several useless attempts to reach
them from the side of the pond She
then plunged into the water, and, after
PLAYING with one of them for a short
time. she put her head close to its ear, as
if to make it understand her intention,
and then sprang out of the pond, while
the Young one chung tightly by its teeth
10 her tail. And then, having landed 1t,
she forthwith rescued the other one IN
the same manner.-Loadon Gloje.
The San Saba news. [volume] (San Saba, Tex.) 1873-1966, 1887-04-22

So 80 tlza s ssle.Islsi e s-arg ~ s
ur ~ . t.aFe. ~ eaz,t oil,sr z1i-
- $50 IS --sais ear ~ n..le @
- r ea fiu sresa. Gal a
rl s e theasl
~ laaaE uzlrliiy IT,
esq ~ r1nf zrrnt A. ari.t
go s1a Ila ss D n.alft arssa. a.
- 1zaf 49, Hs ~ hsa 81 sas fhr
r e-as 49, tl- -aar hnfhs-r.
sa t0s ~ - .ar 81 rlasr g. g.
~ -1a iu A. z-ufr sd a.
nr - EHs ulal e. ri.e
80 f1arl In g. 1esst gfds
80 lrszll aal1aiezr ssru-
a. rafz5as lisrsne 4
~ 1at = - s1.zroa 81 hcrsss.
The San Saba news. [volume] (San Saba, Tex.) 1873-1966, 1887-04-22

Eyes; Rachel Dennisor, of Weston
Mills"
81 was present at your birth, boy, and
your mother told me this story. l inves-
tigated it for her sake, and found it true,
your father having been a widower be-
fore ne met your mother. When next
saw her she was dead and the baby had
vanished, so the whole thing went out of
my mind until this moment Here the
doctor had to pause 10 rub his specta-
cles, and Pauline took advantage Of the
brief silence to say:
Now that you've got q grandfather of
your own, l suppose you and Olive will
be getting married, and then you'll be
my brother Max, will you notl''-FiaH-
oes Z. Wddieigb, IN tie CiaYeat.
The San Saba news. [volume] (San Saba, Tex.) 1873-1966, 1887-04-22

r. arsa ~ 49, ~ a. erssi Nra Iafk
- rels frrs - zsEo5 a. q.ar GaF
-tli ri1r 80 ~ = IL Fe-Ilg
= ~ Hs q - ka.risst
sraEf Tas4r|fr si.1szad do
aal e1e aaz11 I'D s-uf rifh
aa aaaaa ta.i.fllar-l and sercli
ssa 80 rrrrr l.aafa1 a. a. .Et.1i -
- 81 sae ElArr thauszus
80 l.li.lrz e = a. -Erief q
a azi tr.-+ f7ullalrui. z 81 r.
-rasa1aa- 49, ,stl1r.1a1l darss-
The San Saba news. [volume] (San Saba, Tex.) 1873-1966, 1887-04-22
Satisfied to Wait.

'How long would you be willing to
wait for meln she asked in tones so low
he could scarcely catch the words.
And then she went on: you know,
George, she said; THAT father has re-
Gently invested in western silver mine,
and he is going there at once, and can
not leave mother alone. So ask YOU
again, George, how long would you be
willing to wait for mein
''Wait for you, my darling" repeated
George with deep emotion, for his was
no feeting love, dear reader: Il will
wait for you until we learn how the silver
mine pans out. r-Pnck.
The San Saba news. [volume] (San Saba, Tex.) 1873-1966, 1887-04-22

A. ea-trg et-sa ri.s a1nslmT-isu e
~ a. f1ss 'lsa 90 90 b,asb.is
- s - i-l.za fa1s. So esa 893 far
saae aamis aaaa $50 E.r soe8.
~ - - - - f1-sis1liaa - sf..1ifs
80 s-rr 81 e. ~ 81 apr. aad
~ o. sFf ~ 80 I'D . gsai fasiar
- a-s
The San Saba news. [volume] (San Saba, Tex.) 1873-1966, 1887-04-22
Midget OF Fun.
HUMOROUS SKETCHES FROM
VARIOUS SOURCES.
A Railroad Accident-An Inquisitive
Child-Satisfied to Wait-An Adj
hesive PrOfession-An Origi-
nal Proposal" Etc. Etc.

Well, you'll have to walk home to-
night, - remarked man TO another who
lives on the Fort Wayne road.
"Whyln
There's wash-out on your line"
"There is Where2"
in the back yard. Ptt5uTg Chroai-
The San Saba news. [volume] (San Saba, Tex.) 1873-1966, 1887-04-22

have the right amount to hand you when
you come back. If you happen to say to
EN- as you 90 around that this is the first
IS rug you've sold within n mile Of here
I'll give YOU piece of pie and a glass Of
milk = DstryI Ere PrsSs.
The San Saba news. [volume] (San Saba, Tex.) 1873-1966, 1887-04-22
The Worlds Rain.

Could We but utilize all the water
power lifted from the ocean by the sun
beams and waited by the zephyrs over
the land. what vast factories might We
run. What magniied Niagaras might
We createi In recent paper to the Roy
al Society Of Edinburgh, Mr. John Muir
ray sought to give the worlds rainfall in
figures. The areas Of country having an
inland drainage-equal to 11,4s6, $50
square miles-receive ., 243 cubic miles
Of rain yearly. The total areas draining
directly 10 the ocean equal a, 2ll 600
square miles, of which SO, $50, $50 square
miles have more than ten inches OF annu-
al rainfall, and discharge into the sea
$3.50 cubic miles of water each year by
this means rather more than ., Ooo, Ooo'
900 tons Of solids are carried to the ocean
annually.-Arbaasdse TrfTeier-
The San Saba news. [volume] (San Saba, Tex.) 1873-1966, 1887-04-22
QUEER DISHES.
ODD ARTICLES OF FOOD MORE
OR LESS PALATABLE-
Edible Ants and Beetles-Persian
Dinners-Bird's Nest Soup-Polish
Dishes - Macaroni-Makers-
Eating Mice and Donkeys.

Larvae of ants are considered by many
people choice relish when spread upon
bread and butter, and are said to be ex-
cellcnt curried. In Siam they are highly
esteemed, and are so valuable us 10 he
within the reach of only the rich. In
some parts of Africa, where ants swarm.
they are said 10 form at times a consider
able portion of the food supply. The
eggs Of insects belonging to a group Of
aquatic beetles are made in Mexico into
kind Of bread or cake called hautle, which
IS eaten by the people, and NAV be found
IN the markets. They are got by means
of bundles Of reeds or rushes, which are
put in the water, on which they are de-
posted by the insects. When cooked in
cakes they are said to look and taste
something like ish-roe. The London
Standard once published this seductive
recipe for cooking black beetles: Catch
your beetles in a soup-plate filed with
vinegar, and keep them soaking for sin
hours. Then turn the beetles out and
dry them in the sun for at least two
hours, when the outer shell can be easily
removed, the flesh then resembling that
OF shrimp; to be put into gallipot and
mixed up with -four, butter, pepper and
salt, to thick paste; stew in the oven
Tor two hours, and when cold serve with /
bread and butter.
The San Saba news. [volume] (San Saba, Tex.) 1873-1966, 1887-04-22

A blind man in Iowa can tell the color
Ola red-hot stove simply by touching it,
--PpsFS 1aHEqb